Ben Leach

Articles

T-DM1 Approved for HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

February 22nd 2013

The FDA has approved ado-trastuzumab emtansine, also known as T-DM1, for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Alterations in CYP2D6 Enzyme Affect Efficacy of Tamoxifen

February 21st 2013

Genetic or drug-induced alterations of the enzyme CYP2D6 that result in reduced metabolism of tamoxifen are associated with a higher risk of recurrence and death in women with ER–positive breast cancer who receive the drug.

Ibrutinib Receives Breakthrough Designations for Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia

February 13th 2013

The investigational agent ibrutinib was granted "Breakthrough Therapy Designations" by the FDA as a singular therapy for a pair of B-cell malignancies: relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

Palifosfamide Trial Reaches Target for PFS Events

February 12th 2013

The phase III PICASSO 3 trial examining palifosfamide plus doxorubicin in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma has reached its goal for progression-free survival events.

Pomalidomide Approved for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

February 8th 2013

The FDA announced the approval of pomalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma after patients have relapsed or become refractory to other cancer drugs.

SABCS Report: Tackling the Optimal Use of Established Therapies

February 6th 2013

In interviews with OncologyLive, Debu Tripathy, MD, and William Gradishar, MD, discussed their views of the most important abstracts presented during the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

HER2 Mutations Identified as Treatment Targets in Patients With HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

February 5th 2013

Patients with breast cancer who do not exhibit amplifications of the HER2 gene may still have mutations of HER2 that drive the progression of their cancer, suggesting that these mutations could serve as therapeutic targets.

Bevacizumab Results Offer Support for Upfront Therapy

February 5th 2013

Several recent clinical trials have yielded positive data that may open up new treatment options for patients with glioblastoma.

Generic Doxil Approved, Expected to Help Resolve Shortage

February 4th 2013

The FDA has announced the approval of the first generic version of Doxil, which is expected to help alleviate a shortage of the drug that has continued since November 2011.

Potential Treatment Combinations for Melanoma Identified Through Novel Screening Approach

February 4th 2013

A new drug screening method revealed that cholesterol-reducing statin drugs used in combination with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors might serve as an effective treatment approach for certain types of melanoma.

Obinutuzumab Significantly Improves PFS in CLL

January 31st 2013

The first set of results from a phase III clinical trial found that obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil chemotherapy significantly improved PFS in patients with CLL.

Proto-oncogene Responsible for Ovarian Cancer Metastasis Identified

January 29th 2013

Activation of a signaling pathway involving the proto-oncogene Src is responsible for disease progression and metastasis in cancer and beta blocker drugs could be used to reduce mortality in these patients.

Molecular Switch Identified as Treatment Target in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

January 29th 2013

Researchers have discovered that the oncogenic function of a particular protein in CRPC can cause the cancer to spread without stimulation by male hormones.

Second-Line Docetaxel Improves Survival and Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Esophageal and Stomach Cancers

January 23rd 2013

Patients with advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma who received docetaxel as a second-line therapy experienced a longer period of overall survival as well as a better quality of life compared with patients who received active symptom control.

Addition of PI3K Inhibitor May Prevent or Delay Resistance to Therapy in HER2+ Breast Cancer

January 23rd 2013

A new study found that patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who are receiving anti-HER2 therapy could prevent or delay resistance when a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor is added during treatment.

The Future of BRCA1/BRCA2 Testing

January 22nd 2013

A pair of studies could change the way patients are evaluated for mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2, two cancer susceptibility genes closely associated with breast and ovarian cancers, as well as other tumor types.

Study Finds Role for Maintenance Bevacizumab in mCRC

January 16th 2013

A combination of maintenance bevacizumab plus standard second-line chemotherapy appears to be an effective strategy in managing patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after disease progression

Priority Review Granted to Afatinib for EGFR+ Advanced NSCLC

January 15th 2013

The FDA has accepted a NDA for afatinib to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who have tested positive for an EGFR mutation that has been identified through a companion diagnostic test.

Pap Test May Detect Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers

January 10th 2013

New research has found that Papanicolaou smear tests that collect DNA in addition to providing a routine cytologic evaluation may be able to identify mutations associated with ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Potential Targets in Ovarian Cancer Identified

January 8th 2013

Researchers have identified the molecular basis behind two concepts in ovarian cancer that allow tumor stem cells to survive and proliferate even after treatment.